Bobby Holik told The Post yesterday that he is retiring from hockey after 18 NHL seasons, 11 of those with New Jersey.

“I’m done. I’m retiring,” Holik said from his home in Wyoming. “I miss being with my family every day. I knew when the season ended, but I wanted to leave and get home first, and not make a big deal of it.

Niklas Kronwall of the Detroit Red Wings delivers a hit to Martin Havlat that resulted in a five minute interference call and a game misconduct to Kronwall.

HNIC video…

added 10:02pm, Empty Netters chimes in…

That said, Kronwall’s a head hunter who has a history of leaving his feet to deliver hits. And he charged Havlat. Versus commentators Ed Olczyk, Brian Engblom and Keith Jones kept saying Kronwall didn’t leave his feet to deliver the hit. They must have depth perception issues because this is what we saw:

Kronwall was up in the air for maybe a split second, but that doesn’t matter. According to Rule 43 of the NHL’s rulebook:

“43.1 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player or goalkeeper who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner.”

Sources tell TSN the Calgary Flames have fired head coach Mike Keenan and will announce the move shortly. Details to follow.

added 6:09pm, Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today that Mike Keenan has been relieved of his coaching duties with the team.

“Our team did not meet expectations,” said Sutter. “Following detailed evaluation over the past three weeks, and taking into consideration all factors affecting our season ending result, we believe this is a necessary change required to allow our team to continue toward our objective of winning the Stanley Cup.”

“The Calgary Flames organization appreciates and respects Mike for accepting the opportunity to come to Calgary and are thankful for his efforts over the past two years.”

Other members of the Flames coaching staff remain subject to further review and evaluation

However the Phoenix Coyotes’ bankruptcy proceedings go this week, the public scrap has become a zero-sum game for the two sides.

The release of private documents has embarrassed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, lifting the cloak of secrecy he and the league use to keep faltering franchises in line. The guerrilla attempt by Jim Balsillie to buy and relocate the Coyotes’ franchise to Southern Ontario has distanced him from even his most sympathetic supporters within the league.

But with no ceasefire in sight, the sides keep firing away. The release last Sunday of unprecedented Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd. commercials supporting Balsillie’s makeitseven.ca website has ratcheted up pressure on the league, portraying it as anti-Canadian and self-serving.